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Volusia school officials: defeat of tax hike means major cuts in personnel, programs

LINDA TRIMBLEEDUCATION WRITER

Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 5:19 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 5:19 p.m.

Voters reset the direction of the Volusia County School Board in Tuesday's election as they narrowly rejected a property tax hike and ousted the board's longest serving member from office.

The new course, remaining board members said Wednesday, will most certainly mean major cuts to programs and personnel that will impact how Volusia County students learn.

"There are so many opportunities we've been able to give our students that are now on the table," said School Board member Candace Lankford, who campaigned hard for passage of the tax that would have generated $26 million annually for the next four years.

"We have to really look at athletics, the arts, more combined grade classes, more schools sharing principals," she said. "I'm not making this up... We are going to do some unimaginable cuts."

The School Board was seeking the extra tax to help offset $80 million of state budget cuts since 2007 and a projected $25 million deficit going into the budget year that starts July 1.

Opponents argued the board needs to spend what it has more wisely and taxpayers couldn't afford the extra tax in a slow economy.

Its defeat — the first for a Volusia school tax referendum in at least 32 years — was a "bright spot," said Ed Connor, who led the opposition for Volusia Tax Reform.

"We think the citizens have woken up," Connor said. "We're not against cutting education, but this wasn't going to reform the system at all. It would be extremely harmful to business."

School Board members and Superintendent Margaret Smith said Wednesday the spending cuts required by the tax plan's defeat will be decided as the 2012-13 budget is developed.

A "critical needs tax" that has been in place for four years and generates about $6 million annually will expire June 30. The new tax would have absorbed that levy and added another 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value for academic programs, teacher retention and student activities.

School officials released a list of possible budget impacts before the tax vote and said Wednesday it remains a starting point for discussions of what will be cut next school year.

It includes reductions in courses for advanced students and those struggling to reach their academic potential, middle and high school electives and the number of music and art teachers in elementary schools.

The school district also would have less money for coaches, club sponsors and substitute teachers, according to the list, and most likely won't be able to meet state class size limits, bringing more fines like the $2 million to $3 million one pending for this school year.

"Our citizens spoke and we need to respect that," School Board member Diane Smith said.

Cutting elementary art and music teachers and requiring classroom teachers to pick up those subjects is one of her least favorite options on the list. "We've been so committed to the arts," Smith said. "It will be very difficult if we have to make major cuts in them."

"The big thing is to protect the classroom as much as possible," said School Board member Stan Schmidt, who said that will be a big challenge because of the cuts that have already been made in other areas.

School Board member elect Linda Costello, who defeated 20-year incumbent Judy Conte in Tuesday's election, said she wants to insulate the classroom from the budget cuts as well.

She said voters suggested to her the school district could save money by privatizing some services but she doesn't remember which ones. Costello also said she believes a board attorney could be found who's willing to work more cheaply than the Ted Doran firm that now fills that role. Doran's firm was paid $278,712 in the year that ended June 30.

"I don't have enough information to make good decisions right now, but I will be seeking it out," Costello said.

<p>Voters reset the direction of the Volusia County School Board in Tuesday's election as they narrowly rejected a property tax hike and ousted the board's longest serving member from office. </p><p>The new course, remaining board members said Wednesday, will most certainly mean major cuts to programs and personnel that will impact how Volusia County students learn. </p><p>"There are so many opportunities we've been able to give our students that are now on the table," said School Board member Candace Lankford, who campaigned hard for passage of the tax that would have generated $26 million annually for the next four years. </p><p>"We have to really look at athletics, the arts, more combined grade classes, more schools sharing principals," she said. "I'm not making this up... We are going to do some unimaginable cuts." </p><p>The School Board was seeking the extra tax to help offset $80 million of state budget cuts since 2007 and a projected $25 million deficit going into the budget year that starts July 1. </p><p>Opponents argued the board needs to spend what it has more wisely and taxpayers couldn't afford the extra tax in a slow economy. </p><p>Its defeat &mdash; the first for a Volusia school tax referendum in at least 32 years &mdash; was a "bright spot," said Ed Connor, who led the opposition for Volusia Tax Reform. </p><p>"We think the citizens have woken up," Connor said. "We're not against cutting education, but this wasn't going to reform the system at all. It would be extremely harmful to business." </p><p>School Board members and Superintendent Margaret Smith said Wednesday the spending cuts required by the tax plan's defeat will be decided as the 2012-13 budget is developed. </p><p>A "critical needs tax" that has been in place for four years and generates about $6 million annually will expire June 30. The new tax would have absorbed that levy and added another 75 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value for academic programs, teacher retention and student activities. </p><p>School officials released a list of possible budget impacts before the tax vote and said Wednesday it remains a starting point for discussions of what will be cut next school year. </p><p>It includes reductions in courses for advanced students and those struggling to reach their academic potential, middle and high school electives and the number of music and art teachers in elementary schools. </p><p>The school district also would have less money for coaches, club sponsors and substitute teachers, according to the list, and most likely won't be able to meet state class size limits, bringing more fines like the $2 million to $3 million one pending for this school year. </p><p>"Our citizens spoke and we need to respect that," School Board member Diane Smith said. </p><p>Cutting elementary art and music teachers and requiring classroom teachers to pick up those subjects is one of her least favorite options on the list. "We've been so committed to the arts," Smith said. "It will be very difficult if we have to make major cuts in them." </p><p>"The big thing is to protect the classroom as much as possible," said School Board member Stan Schmidt, who said that will be a big challenge because of the cuts that have already been made in other areas. </p><p>School Board member elect Linda Costello, who defeated 20-year incumbent Judy Conte in Tuesday's election, said she wants to insulate the classroom from the budget cuts as well. </p><p>She said voters suggested to her the school district could save money by privatizing some services but she doesn't remember which ones. Costello also said she believes a board attorney could be found who's willing to work more cheaply than the Ted Doran firm that now fills that role. Doran's firm was paid $278,712 in the year that ended June 30. </p><p>"I don't have enough information to make good decisions right now, but I will be seeking it out," Costello said.</p>